Английские идиомы

Идиома: take place Перевод: случаться, происходить Пример: The soccer game took place on the coldest day of the year. Футбольный матч прошел в самый холодный день года.

Идиома: night owl Перевод: сова; человек, которому нравится поздно ложиться Пример: My friend is a night owl and stays up late every night. Мой друг — сова, и каждую ночь он сидит допоздна.

Идиома: here, there and everywhere Перевод: везде Пример: The mice were here, there, and everywhere when we entered the old house. Когда мы зашли в старый дом, кругом бегали мыши.

Идиома: fill the bill / fit the bill Перевод: быть приемлемым, подходящим; быть тем, что надо; удовлетворять требованиям Пример: I think that the new equipment should fill the bill for us. Мне кажется, что новое оборудование должно быть как раз тем, что нам нужно.

[in the short run] {adv. phr.} In the immediate future. We areleasing a car in the short run; later we might buy one. Contrast: INTHE LONG RUN.

Идиома: call a spade a spade Перевод: называть вещи своими именами Пример: The supervisor called a spade a spade when he criticized the employee for being lazy. Надзиратель называл вещи своими именами, когда осуждал рабочего за лень.

[not for all the coffee in Brazil] or [not for all the tea inChina] or [not for anything in the world ] or [not for love or money]See: NOT FOR THE WORLD.

[helter-skelter] {adv.} 1. At a fast speed, but in confusion. The hatted ball broke Mr. Jones’s window, and the boys ran awayhelter-skelter. When the bell rang, the pupils ran helter-skelterout of the door. 2. In a confusing group; in disorder. The moverspiled the furniture helter-skelter in the living room of the newhouse. Mary fell down … Читать далее

[room and board] {n. phr.} A room for rent with meals included. A room alone in that country costs only $10 a day, but room and boardtogether run $22 a day.

[red-handed] {adj.} In the very act; while committing a crime orevil action. The criminal was caught red-handed while holding upthe neighborhood bank at gunpoint.

[dutch treat] {n.}, {informal} A meal in a restaurant or an outing at the movies, concert, or theater where each party pays his or her own way. «I am willing to accept your invitation,» Mary said, «but it will have to be Dutch treat.»

[go over like a lead balloon] {v. phr.}, {informal} To fail togenerate a positive response or enthusiasm; to meet with boredom ordisapproval. The president’s suggested budget cuts went over like alead balloon. Jack’s off-color jokes went over like a leadballoon.

Идиома: across the board Перевод: одинаковый для всех или всего Пример: The taxes increased across the board and everyone must pay more. На все поднялись налоги, и все должны платить больше.

[turn the clock back] {v. phr.} To return to an earlier period. Mother wished she could turn the clock back to the days before thechildren grew up and left home. Will repealing the minimum wagefor workers under age eighteen turn the clock back to the abuses ofthe last century?

[says who] or [says you] {v. phr.}, {slang} I don’t believe oraccept that. — An expression of rebuff often used to make fun ofsomeone or oppose him. «I am the strongest boy on the block.» «Saysyou. « «That brook is full of trout.» «Says who? I never sawanybody catch trout there.» «You can’t take Mary … Читать далее

Идиома: big frog in a small pond / big fish in a small pond Перевод: быть важной фигурой в менее важном месте Пример: The woman was a big fish in a small pond when she moved to the small town. Когда женщина переехала в маленький город, она стала там важной персоной.

Идиома: in a rush Перевод: в спешке Пример: They did the job in a rush so I am a little worried about the quality. Они сделали работу в спешке, поэтому я немного волнуюсь о качестве.

[parallel bars] {n.} Two horizontal bars the same distance apart, that are a few feet above the floor of a gymnasium. The boysexercised on the parallel bars in the gym.

[go to one’s head] {v. phr.} 1. To make one dizzy. Beer and winego to a person’s head. Looking out the high window went to thewoman’s head. 2. To make someone too proud; make a person think he istoo important. Being the star player went to John’s head. Thegirl’s fame as a movie actress went … Читать далее

[backseat driver] {n.}, {informal} A bossy person in a car who always tells the driver what to do. The man who drove the car became angry with the back seat driver.

Идиома: in private Перевод: наедине, частным образом Пример: The meeting was held in private in the office of the school principal. Собрание прошло за закрытыми дверями в офисе директора школы.

[do for] {v.}, {informal} To cause the death or ruin of; cause to fail. — Used usually in the passive form «done for». The poor fellow is done for and will die before morning. Andy’s employer always does very well by him. If Jim fails that test, he is done for.

[follow out] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To do fully; finish The boy followed out the instructions and made afine model plane. Compare: FOLLOW THROUGH. 2. To keep working at until it is finished; give your attentionuntil it comes to an end or conclusion. The student followed outall the index references in the encyclopedia until he … Читать далее

[act up] {v.}, {informal} 1. To behave badly; act rudely or impolitely. The dog acted up as the postman came to the door. 2.To work or run poorly ; skip; miss. Thе car acted up because the spark plugs were dirty.

[go into a huddle] {v. phr.} 1. To gather close together as a teamin a football game, usually to find out your team’s next play. Thefootball team which has the ball goes into a huddle before every playto get orders on what play they will use. 2. {informal} To talktogether privately about something; discuss something … Читать далее

[cut no ice] {v. phr.} To have no effect; achieve no result; be insignificant. The fact that the accused is a millionaire will cut no ice with this particular judge.

[chance it] {v. phr.} To be willing to risk an action whose outcome is uncertain. «Should we take the boat out in such stormy weather?» Jim asked. «We can chance it,» Tony replied. «We have enough experience.»

[hang on the words of] also [hang on the lips of] {v. phr.} Tolisten very attentively to. Ann hangs on every word of her historyteacher and takes very careful notes. As he went on with hisspeech, his auditors, deeply interested, hung on his lips.

Идиома: neck and neck Перевод: голова в голову, наравне, не отставая (особенно в спорте, состязании, соревновании) Пример: The two teams were neck and neck in the race to win the national championship. Две команды шли наравне в гонке за выигрыш в национальном первенстве.

[know which side one’s bread is buttered on] {v. phr.} To know whocan help you and try to please him; know what is for your own gain. Dick was always polite to the boss; he knew which side his bread wasbuttered on.

Идиома: keep / have somebody on a tight / short leash Перевод: держать кого-либо в узде, держать на коротком поводке Пример: He doesn’t go out with the guys much now that his girlfriend is around to keep him on a tight leash. Он не часто гуляет с друзьями теперь, когда его девушка постоянно рядом с … Читать далее

[bum to a crisp] {v. phr.} To burn black; burn past saving or using especially as food. While getting breakfast, Mother was called to the telephone, and when she got back, the bacon had been burned to a crisp.

[to death] {adv. phr.}, {informal} To the limit; to the greatestdegree possible. — Used for emphasis with verbs such as «scare»,»frighten», «bore». Cowboy stories bore me to death, but I likemysteries. Sara is scared to death of snakes. John is tickledto death with his new bike.

Идиома: on and off Перевод: прерывисто, время от времени Пример: It has been raining on and off since early this morning. С раннего утра дождь то идет, то нет. Идиома: on and off / off and on Перевод: от случая к случаю, время от времени, иногда Пример: The man has studied French off and on … Читать далее

[jazz up] {v.}, {slang} To brighten up; add more noise, movement, or color; make more lively or exciting. The party was very dulluntil Pete jazzed it up with his drums.

[take up the cudgels for] {v. phr.}, {literary} To come to thedefense of; to support or fight for. He was the first to take upthe cudgels for his friend. Compare: STAND UP FOR.

Идиома: apple of someone’s eye Перевод: что-либо или кто-либо, очень дорогой или важный для говорящего Пример: The man’s youngest daughter is the apple of his eye. Его младшая дочь очень ему дорога.

[pull date] {n.}, {informal} The date stamped on baked goods, dairyproducts, or other perishable foods indicating the last day on whichthey may be sold before they must be removed from the shelves in aretail store. This pie is way past the pull date — small wonderit’s rotten.

[book] See: CLOSED BOOK, CLOSE THE BOOKS, HIT THE BOOKS, KEEP BOOKS, NOSE IN A BOOK, ONE FOR THE BOOKS, READ ONE LIKE A BOOK, TALKING BOOK, THROW THE BOOK AT.

[pig in a poke] {n. phr.} An unseen bargain; something accepted orbought without looking at it carefully. Buying land by mail isbuying a pig in a poke: sometimes the land turns out to be underwater.

Идиома: John Henry / John Hancock Перевод: собственноручная подпись Пример: Please sign your John Henry here and we will process your order right away. Пожалуйста, поставьте здесь свою подпись и мы сразу же обработаем ваш заказ.

[out of town] {adv. phr.} Having left one’s usual residence orplace of work on a longer trip. «Mr. Smith is out of town untilMonday,» the secretary said. «May I take a message?»

[break one’s balls] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} To do something with maximum effort; to do something very difficult or taxing. I’ve been breaking my balls to buy you this new color TV set and you aren’t the least bit appreciative! Compare: BREAK ONE’S NECK.

[in for] {prep.}, {informal} Unable to avoid; sure to get. Thenaughty puppy was in for a spanking. On Christmas morning we arein for some surprises. We saw Father looking angrily out of thebroken window, and we knew we were in for it. Compare: HAVE IT INFOR.

[water over the dam] or [water under the bridge] {n. phr.}Something that happened in the past and cannot be changed. Sincethe sweater is too small already, don’t worry about its shrinking;that’s water over the dam. Compare: CRY OVER SPILLED MILK.

[sleep on] {v.} To postpone a decision about. We asked Judy ifshe would join our club and she answered that she would sleep on it. We will have to sleep on your invitation until we know whether wewill be free Monday night.

[find one’s —] {v. phr.} To become able to use In the program for the parents, John was nervous andcould not speak at first; then he found his tongue. The young birdhad just found its wings. The baby was just beginning to find hisfeet. The question surprised him, and it was a minute before hefound … Читать далее

[drive at] {v.} To try or want to say; mean. — Used in the present participle. John did not understand what the coach was driving at. He had been talking for half an hour before anyone realized what he was driving at.

[search me] {informal} I don’t know; how should I know? — May beconsidered rude. When I asked her what time it was, she said,»Search me, I have no watch.»

[chew the scenery] {v. phr.}, {slang} To act overemotionally in a situation where it is inappropriate; to engage in histrionics. I don’t know if Joe was sincere about our house, but he sure chewed up the scenery!